Mr. Theobald called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.

Statement of Compliance

Pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of this regular meeting has been provided to the public and the press on January 21, 2015 by delivering to the press such notice and posting same at the municipal building and filed with the office of the Township Clerk.

Salute to the Flag

Roll Call    Also Present
Mayor Shortway NP   Cory Stoner, Board Engineer
Diane Wexler NP   Glenn Kienz, Esq., Board Attorney
Councilmember Murphy P   Kim Decker, Board Secretary
Martin Theobald P   Carole Baksa, Board Recording Secretary
Richard Spoerl P    
Joseph Tadrick P    
Andrea Cocula P    
Ed Rolando P    
Jessica Paladini P    
Chris Hack (#1 Alt) NP    
Michael Whitaker (#2 Alt) NP    
David Nieves (#3 Alt) P    
Kristi Raperto (#4 Alt) P    

Mr. Theobald advised that he had received a resignation letter from Mr. Hack and the board wished him well. Also, Mayor Shortway, Ms. Wexler and Mr. Whitaker had called to inform the board that they wouldn’t be attending the meeting.

Public Hearings

PB# 8-05-9: James Lombardo - Block 145, Lot 1.01, - Request for Extension of Time for Final Site Plan Approval with Variances to Develop a Two-Story Structure along with Related Site Improvements

Mr. Tadrick stepped down due to a business relationship with Mr. Lombardo.

Mr. Lombardo was sworn in and stated that he would like to keep the permits that are already approved alive by doing the paving now, but not the building and asked for a one year extension of time.

Open meeting to the public. No one from the public wished to speak.

Close meeting to the public.

Motion: A motion was made by Mr. Nieves and seconded by Mr. Spoerl to approve the extension of time for Mr. Lombardo. ROLL CALL: Murphy: Y, Theobald: Y, Spoerl: Y, Cocula: Y, Rolando: Y, Paladini: Y, Nieves: Y, Raperto: Y. Passed.

Land Use Board Discussion Items (action may or may not be taken)

Review Historic Landmark Registration Form Prepared by Vernon Township Historic Preservation Commission Regarding United Methodist Cemetery, Block 148, Lot 2, for Recommendation as a Historic Landmark Designation

Mr. Charles Bates of the historic preservation commission addressed the board with regard to the veterans cemetery and spoke of the fact that veterans from the Revolutionary War all the way up to today’s veterans would be laid to rest there.

Motion: A motion was made to provide a favorable recommendation on the project by Ms. Cocula and seconded by Mr. Tadrick to approve the above recommendation. Ms. Decker will be sending a letter to the governing body indicating same. ROLL CALL: Murphy: Y, Theobald: Y, Spoerl: Y, Tadrick: Y, Cocula: Y, Rolando: Y, Paladini: Y, Nieves: Y, Raperto: Y. Passed.

Annual Update of N.J.S.A. 40:55d-70.1 Recommendations

Motion: A motion was made by Ms. Cocula and seconded by Ms. Paladini to approve the above recommendations. ROLL CALL: Murphy: Y, Theobald: Y, Spoerl: Y, Tadrick: Y, Cocula: Y, Rolando: Y, Paladini: Y, Nieves: Y, Raperto: Y. Passed.

New Land Use Board Applications

Several of the board members complimented Ms. Decker on the new land use board applications. Mr. Stoner and Ms. Decker are to finalize the checklist and fees before completion of the new application.

Public Participation

Open Meeting to the Public for Items Other than Those Listed on the Agenda

Close Meeting to the Public

Resolutions

LU# 2-16-1: Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless - Block 22, Lot 8.01, - Conditional Use Site Plan and Use Variance to Construct a Small Network Node Wireless Communications Facility

Motion: A motion was made by Mr. Spoerl and seconded by Ms. Cocula to pass the above resolution. ROLL CALL: Theobald: Y, Spoerl: Y, Cocula: Y, Rolando: Y. Passed.

Minutes

March 9, 2016: Regular Meeting Minutes

Motion: A motion was made by Mr. Spoerl and seconded by Ms. Cocula to approve the above minutes. All were in favor. Passed.

Appendix A: Escrows, Board Fees, Bond Reductions and Escrow Closures

  1. Board Fees
    1. Board Attorney: Glenn Kienz, Weiner Lesniak LLP
      1. Land Use Board Business: Services through 2/10/16 ($320.00)
      2. Land Use Board Business: Services through 3/31/16 ($416.00)
      3. Land Use Board Business: Services through 3/29/16 ($37.50)
      4. Vernon Valley Reserve: LU# 11-15-12 - Services through 2/5/16 ($720.00)
      5. National Winter Act.: LU# 6-15-6 - Services through 2/5/16 ($701.00)
      6. Wilson Facility Mang.: LU# 6-15-8 - Services through 1/5/16 ($32.00)
      7. Lake Community Asso.: LU# 11-15-13 - Services through 2/23/16 ($512.00)
      8. Theta 456 Assoc.: LU# 5-13-2 - Services through 1/5/16 ($208.00)
      9. Cellco Partnership: LU# 2-16-1 - Services through 2/11/16 ($75.00)
      10. Anthony Finemore: LU# 2-16-2 - Services through 2/26/16 ($75.00)
      11. First Hartford Realty: LU# 5-14-4 - Services through 1/4/16 ($80.00)
      12. National Winter Act.: LU# 6-15-6 - Services through 1/13/16 ($160.00)
      13. National Winter Act.: LU# 6-15-6 - Services through 3/31/16 ($352.00)
      14. Cellco Partnership: LU# 2-16-1 - Services through 3/10/16 ($704.00)
    2. Board Planner: Jessica Caldwell, J. Caldwell & Associates
      1. Land Use Board Business: Services through 3/9/16 ($234.00)
      2. Cellco Partnership: LU# 2-16-1 - Services through 2/19/16 ($702.00)
      3. Cellco Partnership: LU# 2-16-1 - Services through 3/24/16 ($702.00)
      4. Anthony Finemore: LU# 2-16-2 - Services through 3/31/16 ($526.50)
    3. Board Engineer: Cory Stoner, Harold E. Pellow & Associates
      1. Land Use Board Business: Services through 2/25/16 ($250.00)
      2. Land Use Board Business: Services through 3/9/16 ($125.00)
      3. First Hartford Realty: LU# 5-14-4 - Services through 2/23/16 ($535.00)
      4. First Hartford Realty: LU# 5-14-4 - Services through 3/29/16 ($812.50)
      5. National Winter Act.: LU# 6-15-6 - Services through 3/24/16 ($2,418.50)
      6. Wilson Facility Mang.: LU# 6-15-8 - Services through 3/14/16 ($490.50)
      7. Cellco Partnership: LU# 2-16-1 - Services through 3/9/16 ($625.00)
      8. Anthony Finemore: LU# 2-16-2 - Services through 3/24/16 ($433.75)
    4. Board Recording Secretary: Carole Baksa - ($45.00)

Motion: A motion was made by Ms. Paladini and seconded by Mr. Tadrick to approve the above board fees. All were in favor. Passed.

  1. Request for Escrows to Be Closed
    1. PB# 8-07-12: The Cedars at Black Creek Reserve - Block 141, Lot 12.04, Final Major Subdivision - Request for Escrow to Be Released
    2. ZB# 5-05-11: Classiclake Enterprises, LLC - Block 91, Lot 1.13 Final Major Subdivision - Request for Escrow to Be Released
    3. PB# 7-04-10: Classiclake Enterprises, LLC - Block 92, Lot 2, Minor Subdivision - Request for Escrow to Be Released

Motion: A motion was made by Mr. Spoerl and seconded by Mr. Rolando to close the above escrow accounts and release funds. All were in favor. Passed.

Ms. Paladini shared with the board the recent recognition that Vernon Township had received, with the support of the historic preservation commission, as the 8th official NJ Scenic Byway in the state, officially designated the Western Highlands Scenic Byway and that it will be huge for the future of Vernon Township.

Adjournment

Motion: A motion was made by Mr. Tadrick and seconded by Ms. Cocula to adjourn the meeting. All were in favor.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m.

These minutes were transcribed by Carole Baksa on May 4, 2016